In a candid interview with Arise News, Biodun Ajiboye, Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation, declined to detail socio-economic gains under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, instead attributing her limited perspective to a confined professional role. The remarks came during a discussion focused on measurable improvements in areas such as poverty reduction, health outcomes, and education since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.
Ajiboye was directly questioned about specific indices, including life expectancy, maternal mortality, childhood development, and poverty levels, that have shown positive trends under the current presidency. Rather than providing data, she stated, “Just because you’re always in the studio, you probably don’t know what is going on in Nigeria,” implying that her own studio-based work left her unaware of national developments. She emphasized that Nigeria’s dire economic condition prior to the 2023 elections necessitated Tinubu’s “bold reforms,” describing them as the only viable path forward.
While acknowledging that “good things” have been accomplished by the ruling party, Ajiboye offered no empirical evidence to substantiate claims of socio-economic progress. Instead, she shifted blame to the preceding administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, citing “economic confusion” marked by escalating national debt, a burdensome fuel subsidy regime, and the alleged indiscriminate printing of N30 trillion. These factors, she argued, exacerbated poverty and strained social protection systems, creating a scenario that demanded immediate corrective action.
The Tinubu administration has implemented significant reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and currency unification, aimed at long-term stabilization. However, these moves have coincided with heightened inflation and living costs, fueling public debate over their real-world impact. Ajiboye’s failure to cite concrete metrics highlights a persistent gap between political rhetoric and data-driven accountability in Nigeria’s policy discourse.
This interaction reflects broader tensions as the government faces scrutiny over its economic stewardship. Without transparent, verifiable data on key development indicators, assessments of performance remain largely anecdotal. Observers note that sustained progress will depend on consistent measurement and public communication of outcomes in health, education, and poverty alleviation. As Nigeria navigates these reforms, calls for evidence-based governance are likely to intensify, positioning data transparency as a critical benchmark for the Tinubu administration’s legacy.
